LAKELAND — The Florida Conference Risk Management Committee is encouraging church representatives to attend a meeting about the hurricanes of 2004 to have a voice in the way the conference responds to disasters in the future.

The meeting is April 22 at First United Methodist Church of Sebring. Participants are asked to check-in at 9 a.m., with the meeting running from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The location was chosen to minimize travel for churches most impacted by the 2004 hurricanes. Lunch will be provided for a modest cost, and those who plan to attend are asked to register through the conference Web site at http://www.flumc.org/riskmanage/hurricane_claims.htm.

Dr. Randy Casey-Rutland, conference treasurer, said the meeting is an ideal time for members to make suggestions, based on their experiences during the past year, that will help shape the way the conference responds to future disasters.

"It is our desire that every church affected by the hurricanes have an opportunity to participate in this meeting," he said. "We want to be able to learn from the perspectives of people who experienced hurricane damage to their church. We want people to be better equipped to respond to disasters at their church."

Casey-Rutland said the goals of the meeting are to provide an environment for churches to constructively share their concerns and frustrations, as well as identify "lessons learned" and how risk management may apply those for future mitigation. He stressed the importance of the meeting focusing solely on insurance issues and not recovery ministry issues.

"We want people to leave the event with a better understanding of how the conference risk management program works," he said. "They will be able to dialogue with our brokers and the adjusting company and the risk management committee."

Casey-Rutland said the risk management committee, led by chairman Roger Bond, is sponsoring the event with one purpose: to do its best to serve the churches of the Florida Conference.

"We're hoping to gather people who are concerned with and interested in the results we've had with resource management during the past hurricane season," Bond said. "We hope to resolve some concerns with how claims were managed and try to enlighten those who would like to know more about resource management."

Bond says it's an open forum that will give people a chance to both hear an updated report and provide feedback.

"By providing opportunities like this, we believe we can improve communication and promote a spirit of unity across the conference," Casey-Rutland said.

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This article relates to Florida Conference Risk Management.

*Parham is managing editor of e-Review Florida United Methodist News Service. **Buchholz is a staff writer for e-Review Florida United Methodist News Service.

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